Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III said he is prepared to relinquish his post should fellow senators decide to replace him, stressing that leadership in the chamber rests on trust and confidence.
In a television interview, Sotto recalled past political shifts in the Senate, noting: “We were only 13, and the (member of the) minority (bloc) were 11. So sanay ako dyan.”
Currently, the Senate has 15 majority members and nine in the minority. Sotto emphasized that his position is not permanent.
“Sa akin kasi, I only serve at the pleasure of my colleagues. They can replace me anytime. I have no problem with that,” he said.
He added that he could continue to work effectively even without a leadership role.
“I can work as a simple senator. I can be a minority leader. I can be an assistant to whoever,” Sotto remarked, saying he slept soundly despite talks of possible numbers to unseat him.
Sotto reiterated that a Senate President must always be ready to step down if confidence is lost.
“Once you’re the Senate President, you should always be ready to give up your post if you no longer have the trust and confidence of your colleagues,” he said.
He also pointed out that being in the minority does not mean opposing the majority on all issues, citing open communication among senators.
“Because we’re friends with everybody… We talk with each other. We know the intentions of others. We know the advocacies of others,” he added.
Sotto did not rule out the possibility that two or three minority senators could eventually shift to the majority bloc.